Rigel Robinson, 27, who had announced his bid for the mayoralty, recently announced his resignation as a councilmember. Robinson was the youngest councilmember in Berkeley when first elected at age 22. He stated that he would like to prioritize his family, as he had been exhausted by incessant harassment from those who oppose his policies.
“For as long as I’ve been in public office, I have tolerated various forms of harassment, stalking, and threats from members of our community,” he said. “Generally, I have accepted this as simply being part of the job. But when these behaviors affect my loved ones, I have to draw the line. It’s time for me to prioritize my well-being and my family.”
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve this community. But it has taken a toll,” he said. “I am burnt out. My tank is empty. I have been in a perpetual state of stress and exhaustion for as long as I can remember. It is not sustainable or healthy, and I need to make a significant lifestyle change.”
In an interview with local media outlet Berkeleyside, Robinson said he has been followed and told to kill himself, and that concerning messages were taped to the door of his home and mailed to him. Robinson said he discussed his concerns with Berkeley police and considered seeking restraining orders against multiple individuals, but did not go through with the process.
In particular, he said, it has become more frequent since he started working on a UC Berkeley student housing project at People’s Park, a historic part of the city.
In response to Robinson’s resignation announcement, fellow council members expressed sympathy and said they were saddened. “I am proud of the work Councilmember Rigel Robinson has done for our city, from his beginnings as an intern in my office to his leadership on housing and transit among many other policies,” Mayor Jesse Arreguín wrote in a statement. “I am saddened to see him leave, but respect this difficult and personal decision.”
“The harassment & abuse public servants face is real,” fellow lawmaker Terry Taplin said on X (formerly Twitter), adding that “This toxicity should never be normalized.”
Robinson, whose mother is of Korean descent, grew up in Missouri and moved to California when he enrolled at UC Berkeley. As an undergraduate, he served as student body president and advocated for student housing.
In 2018, he became the youngest person ever elected to the city council at 22 years old. Robinson stepped down a year after winning re-election in 2022. He also dropped his bid for mayor of Berkeley.
“If my previous visit to Korea with my mother was a family trip to see my grandparents, my visit to Korea as a public servant was one of the most magical moments of my life,” he said of his 2019 visit to the city of Gongju, South Korea, a year after being sworn in as a councilmember.
Robinson represented District 7, which includes UC Berkeley and the Telegraph Business Improvement District.
According to the Berkeley Municipal Code, proxies of councilmembers cannot be appointed. A special election will be held to fill the vacancy created by Robinson’s resignation until he completes his term in 2026.
BY SUAH JANG, JUNHAN PARK [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
